Hundreds of people are now serving prison sentences or being held on remand for alleged offences related to the protests in Hong Kong. Sympathy with political detainees is widespread
Such bookworms belong to a new breed of prisoner: the dissident. Before the pro-democracy demonstrations that roiled Hong Kong for much of 2019, few people were incarcerated for taking part in political protests. But the authorities have got tougher. More than 10,000 people have been arrested in connection with the unrest. Court proceedings have begun against a quarter of them.
Conditions are better than in the mainland’s jails, where political prisoners are allowed little, if any, contact with the outside world and are often treated brutally. In Hong Kong, volunteers collect books and organise letter-writing campaigns for detainees. Online guides provide advice to correspondents about what not to write: avoid slogans from the protests and any references to violence or sexually explicit material.
Sympathy for political detainees is widespread in Hong Kong. During a heatwave in May, a petition for the provision of cold water and more showers to those incarcerated garnered over 140,000 signatures. A cottage industry has emerged to help them in other ways. Some Hong Kongers transcribe popular YouTube videos for inmates, who cannot access the internet.
Well-known pro-democracy inmates pass the time by exercising, writing letters, helping fellow inmates with their appeals and publishing articles in local newspapers. Chow Hang Tung, a jailed barrister and human-rights activist, accepted her boyfriend’s proposal of marriage, which was sent to her by letter. It was later published in, one of Hong Kong’s leading newspapers.
Imprisoned activists are scattered throughout the city’s jails to prevent them from communicating with each other. But officials still worry about their influence. In September an elite squad was used to quell a protest by 18 prisoners angered at the treatment of other inmates, including Tiffany Yuen, a district councillor who is on remand under the national-security law. They had been accused of acquiring a prohibited number of chocolates and hair clips.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Meet Hong Kong's 'ghost net hunter' who is saving the city's sea life'Ghost nets' are lost or abandoned fishing tools that trap and kill sea creatures as they float in the ocean. This retired Hong Kong diver is on a mission to remove the abandoned nets, and stop them destroying the city's coastal environment: CallToEarth
Read more »
‘Captain America’ Protester Gets Nearly Six Years in Prison for Hong Kong Mall ChantsA man who chanted protest slogans in Hong Kong’s shopping malls after China imposed a national security law was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison after being found guilty of promoting independence.
Read more »
Hong Kong's 'Captain America' jailed under security lawA Hong Kong activist dubbed 'Captain America 2.0' for wielding the superhero's shield at pro-democracy protests was jailed for nearly six years on Thursday under a national security law, after a court ruled he promoted independence from China.
Read more »
Don Omar & Nío García Take Us Behind the Scenes of 'Se Menea': Exclusive Video.DonOmar’s new single “Se Menea” with rising star NioGarcia, which drops Thursday night (Nov. 11), is a fast-clipped, infectious merengue that’s both old-school and contemporary.
Read more »
The Incredibly Simple Reason Behind The Great ResignationThat fueled a massive, sudden surge in demand for goods and services unseen by millions who spent months locked in their homes. In turn, that fueled a concomitant surge in demand for workers to provide said goods and services.
Read more »
27 'Eternals' Behind-The-Scenes Facts Straight From Screenwriters Kaz And Ryan FirpoThe Eternals writers had to be spoiled on Infinity War and Endgame since they were writing a movie that would come after them.
Read more »